KOCHI: The fear of Nipah virus may be over but the residents of Cheranellore panchayat are yet to be out of the fear of contagious diseases due to the accumulating waste on the road side amid advancing monsoon.
"It is highly regretful that we, the members of Kutty Sahib Road Residents Association in Chittoor, are made to live in this awful condition with hundreds of bags containing waste even from chicken and meat shops scattered on and alongside the road," said Rexy Rodrigues, a resident of the area.
"Such blatant dumping of waste all over the road under the cover of darkness by anti-social elements adds to the stray dog menace. The decaying waste also stinks making it difficult for pedestrians to use the road. Our repeated complaints in this regard have only fallen on deaf ears of the authorities including the panchayat," said Mr Rodrigues. He said the customary pre-monsoon cleaning also has not taken place in the panchayat which has aggravated the situation.
Dr Molly Elizabeth, another resident, said that contagious diseases such as dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and others can break out any time in the area. "The presence of mosquitoes, rodents and stray dogs is threatening the lives of the residents," she said.
"Many areas remain waterlogged during rainy days due to the absence of proper drainage alongside the road leading to the hospital where the Nipah-affected person was admitted,” said Mohan Mangattuseril, a social worker in the area. A drainage construction is urgently needed on one side of the road. “Many roads are without street lights and most of the wanton throwing of waste takes place under the cover of darkness. The stretch between Shappu pady and Container Road and the panchayat office area and the Chittoor-Cheranellore road are also target areas of these elements."
He said the residents complained to the Chief Minister, health minister, district collector and the police in this regard. "The panchayat authorities claim they are helpless saying the state government allotted only Rs 15,000 for pre-monsoon cleaning," Mr Mangattuseril said.
